Showing posts with label fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fraud. Show all posts

U.S. Dept. of Education to forgive $71.7 Million in loans for students deceived by DeVry University

Saturday, February 19, 2022

Example of deception ad from DeVry
Courtesy Carlson Law Firm
The Federal Trade Commission announced this week that its years-long investigation into DeVry University continues to benefit consumers, as the U.S. Department of Education will forgive $71.7 million in federal student loans for students deceived by the for-profit university, based in part on the FTC’s prior action.

“Students deceived by DeVry should not be drowning in debt, and I’m pleased to see the Department of Education taking action to right this injustice,” said Samuel Levine, Director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. 
“It also sends a strong message to for-profit schools that luring students with fraudulent claims will not be tolerated. The FTC looks forward to continuing its coordination efforts and partnership with the Department of Education.”

According to the 2016 FTC complaint, DeVry deceptively advertised that 90 percent of its graduates seeking employment landed jobs in their field within six months of graduation. The FTC also alleged that DeVry misrepresented that its graduates had 15 percent higher incomes one year after graduation on average than the graduates of all other colleges or universities.

The announcement by the U.S. Department of Education builds on the FTC’s prior federal court order against DeVry. Under that order, the school paid $49.4 million to the FTC for partial refunds to some students and $50.6 million in relief from debt owed to DeVry. 

In 2017, the agency mailed 173,000 refund checks totaling more than $49 million to students in compensation for DeVry’s allegedly misleading ads. Because money remained in the fund, in 2019, the FTC mailed an additional 128,875 checks totaling more than $9.4 million to people who cashed their first check.

Consumers interested in submitting a claim for loan forgiveness, should visit the Department of Education’s Borrow Defense Loan Discharge informational page.



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AG Ferguson: Center for COVID Control blocked from operating testing centers in Washington while case continues

Friday, February 18, 2022

Unprocessed test kits were shoved
into plastic bags. Previous article here.
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that his office obtained a preliminary injunction in a case against Illinois-based testing company Center for COVID Control. 

Under the order, the court blocked the company from providing COVID-19 testing services or collect consumer health information in Washington while the case is litigated.

In addition, as part of the court order, the company agreed to never again operate in Washington. 

The company shut down its Washington-based testing centers on or about January 13, 2022 and has not reopened them since.

The case will now enter the discovery phase, and will continue on the merits of the legal claims.

“Calling this conduct a ‘scam’ is an understatement,” Ferguson said. “It was unethical, illegal, and jeopardized the health of thousands of Washingtonians. Our investigation put a stop to Center for COVID Control’s Washington operations.”

More information here



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Federal Trade Commission's ongoing investigation into robocalls

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, federal courts in California ordered two Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers to turn over information that the agency is seeking as part of ongoing investigations into potentially illegal robocalls. 

Companies that fail to comply with such federal court orders can be held in contempt.

“Companies that receive FTC Civil Investigative Demands must promptly produce all required information,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. 
“These demands are not voluntary. Companies that don’t respond fully, or don’t respond at all, will have to answer to a federal district court judge, as these cases demonstrate.”

VoIP service providers are companies that facilitate the transmission of telephone calls over the Internet. As billions of illegal telemarketing calls and robocalls pass through VoIP service providers each year, the FTC has worked to ensure they do not transmit illegal calls – especially those coming from overseas.

The Commission frequently issues Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) to VoIP service providers that carry potentially illegal calls to collect important information to help stop the calls, including information about the company’s customers and efforts to comply with the Telemarketing Sales Rules.

More information here



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SCAM ALERT: Lake Forest Park Police will NOT demand money due to an arrest warrant

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Lake Forest Park Police Department has and will NOT call looking for money due to a warrant for your arrest. A current scammer is spoofing the police department phone number and has successfully taken thousands of dollars from victims.

Please hang up and call Lake Forest Park PD or any other agency they claim to be with.

  • DO NOT send money, gift cards or any other means of currency.
  • DO NOT give out any personal information

If you are concerned you are being scammed, hang up and call the agency, company or "family member" back by using a trusted phone number for them.

REMEMBER - Local, State and federal agencies do not make phone calls for warrants or financial obligations.



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AG Ferguson files lawsuit against Center for COVID Control over invalid and false test results

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Center for COVID Control stored
week-old tests in garbage bags
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a lawsuit against Center for COVID Control, an Illinois-based company that ran several testing centers in Washington state, for providing invalid, false and delayed COVID-19 test results to Washingtonians, or sometimes providing no results at all. 

The company’s unlawful practices included storing tests in garbage bags for over a week rather than properly refrigerating them, and backdating sample collection dates so that stale samples would still be processed.

Employees reported that the company instructed them to “lie to patients on a daily basis” when Washingtonians complained about their delayed results.

Ferguson’s lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, asserts the company violated the Consumer Protection Act when it deliberately failed to deliver prompt, valid and accurate results. 

Moreover, the company also violated the Consumer Protection Act when it made deceptive promises that it could deliver results within 48 hours. 

The Attorney General’s Office plans to file a motion for preliminary injunction soon to immediately stop the Center for COVID Control’s unlawful conduct. The office will request a preliminary injunction hearing for the soonest available date.

“Center for COVID Control contributed to the spread of COVID-19 when it provided false negative results,” Ferguson said. “These sham testing centers threatened the health and safety of our communities. They must be held accountable.”

Center for COVID Control operated about 300 testing sites nationwide. 

The company had at least 13 testing sites in Washington, located in Lakewood, Tacoma, University Place, Seattle, Bellevue, Auburn, Lynnwood, Everett, Port Orchard and Yakima. The company provided COVID-19 tests to thousands of Washingtonians.

The company did not have a license to operate a business in any municipalities in Washington, except for Yakima, at the time they conducted COVID-19 tests. These testing sites paused all operations on or about Jan. 13, and are still closed.

The company advertised that they could provide COVID-19 test results within 15 minutes for a rapid antigen test, and within 48 hours for a more accurate PCR test.

However, in reality, the company was aware it could not actually process tests at this speed. Former employees reported that the company was receiving between 8,000 to 10,000 tests per day, and data entry staff could not keep up. The company’s owners refused requests to hire more staff to keep up with the demand for testing.

Employees began storing tests in garbage bags and piling them up in various corners of the office with no semblance of organization. Some former employees reported regularly finding tests sitting in trash bags that were over a week old, never refrigerated properly and never tested by the company’s lab.

More here



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Salomon bill would crack down on false COVID-19 vaccination cards

Thursday, January 27, 2022

People who sell or present false proof of a COVID-19 vaccination would be subject to criminal charges under legislation heard today by the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

“I can’t imagine a worse time for someone to falsify proof of a vaccination than during a pandemic, as we’re facing now,” said Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline). 
“This is the most serious public health threat of our lifetimes, a true life-and-death issue for people who are medically vulnerable or unable to get vaccinated due to health issues.”


Under Salomon’s Senate Bill 5667, it would be a class C felony to sell or offer false documentation of a vaccination. Presenting false documentation would be a misdemeanor.

COVID-19 vaccination cards are distributed by authorized health care providers when recipients receive vaccinations, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized thousands of fraudulent vaccination cards at international mail facilities and at express consignment facilities.

Salomon noted that his bill does not address mandates or whether vaccinations are required at workplaces or at public venues, but focuses solely on whether a vaccination document has been falsified. The bill is scheduled for executive action on Thursday.

“This is simply about truth in advertising and honest documentation,” he said. “People who are medically vulnerable or who want to avoid exposure to the virus deserve to know that documentation of a vaccination can be trusted.

Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, represents the 32nd Legislative District, which includes Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Seattle, Shoreline, Woodway, and unincorporated Snohomish County.



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FTC returns more than $10 Million to consumers who paid hidden fees to LendingClub

Friday, January 21, 2022

The Federal Trade Commission is returning more than $10 million to consumers who were charged undisclosed fees by online lender LendingClub Corporation. The FTC is distributing refunds directly to more than 15,000 LendingClub customers and encouraging additional LendingClub customers to apply for refunds.

The FTC sued LendingClub in April 2018, charging that the company falsely promised loan applicants that they would receive a specific loan amount with “no hidden fees,” when in reality the company deducted hundreds or even thousands of dollars in hidden up-front fees from the loans. The FTC also alleged that LendingClub told consumers they were approved for loans when they were not and took money from consumers’ bank accounts without authorization.

The FTC is sending refunds via PayPal to 15,748 LendingClub customers who complained to the company or the FTC about the hidden fees. Recipients have until February 16, 2022 to accept the payments. Recipients who have questions about their payments should call the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 833-630-1417. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

In addition, between January 18 and 20, the FTC will email additional LendingClub customers who took out loans before January 6, 2017 and repaid the loan. The email will provide instructions on how to request a refund. LendingClub customers who believe they may be eligible for a refund but do not receive an email by January 20 should contact the refund administrator at 833-630-1417. The deadline for additional consumers to file claims is February 16, 2022.

The FTC’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the country, but the United States Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the FTC lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal court going forward. The Commission has urged Congress to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.



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AG Ferguson lawsuit nets $45M in debt relief, payments from Navient

Monday, January 17, 2022

Attorney General Bob Ferguson
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that, as a result of his lawsuit, student loan servicer Navient will provide nearly $45 million in debt relief, restitution and costs to resolve Washington’s lawsuit. 

Ferguson asserted Navient, the Sallie Mae offshoot that was then the nation’s largest student loan servicer, engaged in numerous unfair and deceptive practices harming Washington student loan borrowers.

Washington was the first state, along with Illinois, to file a lawsuit against Navient, and the first to obtain a judgment stating Navient broke the law.

The student loan giant will:
  • Extend more than $35 million in debt relief, erasing the remaining debt of more than 1,400 Washingtonians who took out certain private student loans between 2002 and 2014 — an average of about $25,000 per person;
  • Pay $2.3 million in restitution to approximately 8,900 Washington borrowers enrolled in forbearance for an extended period of time between 2009 and 2017; and
  • Pay $7 million to Washington to cover costs from the complex, multiyear investigation and litigation, along with future enforcement of the state’s Consumer Protection Act.Washingtonians do not need to take any action to receive these benefits. Borrowers receiving private loan debt cancellation will receive a notice from Navient, and they will receive refunds of any payments made on those loans after June 30, 2021. Washingtonians who are eligible for a restitution payment will receive a postcard in the mail from the Attorney General’s settlement administrator in the next several months. Federal student loan borrowers who may be eligible for a restitution payment are encouraged to update their contact information in their studentaid.gov account or create an account if they do not already have one.

For more details and the most up-to-date information, please visit www.NavientAGSettlement.com.



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Scam alert from the Social Security Administration

Sunday, November 28, 2021


If you receive a call, text, or email that...
  • Threatens to suspend your Social Security number, even if they have part or all of your Social Security number
  • Warns of arrest of legal action
  • Demands or requests immediate payment
  • Requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, internet currency, or by mailing cash
  • Pressures you for personal information
  • Requests secrecy
  • Threatens to seize your bank account
  • Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
  • Tries to gain your trust by providing fake "documentation," false "evidence," or the name of a real government official
...it is a SCAM!

Do not give scammers money or personal information – Ignore Them!

Protect yourself and others from Social Security-related scams
  • Try to stay calm. Do not provide anyone with money or personal information when you feel pressured, threatened, or scared.
  • Hang up or ignore it. If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email, hang up or do not respond. Government employees will not threaten you, demand immediate payment, or try to gain your trust by sending you pictures or documents.
  • Report Social Security-related scams. If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email that mentions Social Security, ignore it and report it to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Do not be embarrassed if you shared personal information or suffered a financial loss.
  • Get up-to-date information. Follow SSA OIG on Twitter @TheSSAOIG and Facebook @SSA Office of the Inspector General for the latest information on Social Security-related scams. Visit the Federal Trade Commission for information on other government scams.
  • Spread the word. Share your knowledge of Social Security-related scams. Post on social media using the hashtag #SlamtheScam to share your experience and warn others. Visit oig.ssa.gov/scam for more information. Please also share with your friends and family.



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AG data breach report: 2021 sets new record for number of data breaches and ransomware attacks

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Attorney General Bob Ferguson released his sixth annual Data Breach Report today. 

In the last year, breached businesses and agencies sent 6.3 million notices to Washingtonians — by far the largest number of notifications sent to Washingtonians since the Attorney General’s Office began tracking this number. 

2018 set the previous record of 3.5 million breach notices sent to Washingtonians.

The report finds that the number of data breaches reported to the Attorney General’s Office also skyrocketed to 280, blowing past the previous record of 78 and last year’s total of 60. In other words, this year’s total represents a 500 percent increase over last year.

Additionally, the report identifies a tremendous spike in cyberattacks and ransomware incidents.

Ransomware — a type of cyberattack in which cybercriminals use malicious code to hold data hostage in hopes of receiving a ransom payment from the data holders — represents a growing and significant threat to consumers and businesses. The Attorney General’s Office recorded 150 ransomware incidents in 2021 — more than the previous five years combined.

The report includes recommendations to policymakers and best practices for the public to protect their data and minimize risks.

The public can access the Attorney General’s database of breaches here.

More information HERE



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Attorney General Ferguson uses innovative approach to recover $495,000 in stolen unemployment benefits

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson has announced that his office recovered $495,000 stolen from the Washington Employment Security Department, making Washington the first state to use its asset forfeiture power to recover stolen funds.

The money will be returned to the Washington unemployment insurance trust fund.

During the pandemic, sophisticated fraud rings stole billions of dollars from at least 11 states, including Washington. 

While multiple states suffered substantial losses, Attorney General Ferguson is the first state attorney general to exercise state asset forfeiture powers to recover stolen funds. 

Attorney General Ferguson initiated a unique investigation searching for bank accounts where fraudsters had not yet withdrawn all stolen funds, and launched a legal effort to reclaim these funds for the state.

Today, Ferguson announced that King County Superior Court Judge Johanna Bender granted the attorney general’s first motion for forfeiture, ordering TD Bank to transfer back to Washington $495,000 from 120 accounts where the stolen funds had been deposited. 

The bank did not oppose the motion. Ferguson’s office is pursuing similar recoveries involving other large banks.

This action is wholly separate from the multi-agency federal law enforcement task force investigation resulting in multiple arrests of Nigerian citizens allegedly connected to the fraud. Ferguson’s office has been assisting federal efforts, while also searching for additional ways to use its authority.

Read more here



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Help for seniors to avoid scams this holiday season

Wednesday, October 27, 2021


With the holidays approaching, it is easy to get scammed! Please join the UW Bothell School of Nursing students on Tuesday November 16, 2021 from 1-1:30pm in this 30 minute dialogue over Zoom as they discuss the ways technology scammers target seniors and what we can do to help prevent ourselves from falling prey to their schemes. 

The dialogue will be recorded and shared with those who register to attend. 

Space is limited so register HERE

Need help registering? Contact 253-237-2848 or send an email to info@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org or to Elizabeth@NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org.

Send any questions in advance to Sophia at sophiayouk5@gmail.com.


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FTC finalizes settlement with operators of MoviePass related to allegations they blocked subscribers from using movie service as advertised

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

MoviePass was not as advertised
The Federal Trade Commission has given final approval to a settlement with the operators of MoviePass over allegations they took steps to block subscribers from using the service as advertised, while also failing to secure subscribers’ personal data.

In a complaint and proposed settlement first announced in June 2021, the FTC alleged that MoviePass Inc.— along with CEO Mitchell Lowe, MoviePass parent company Helios and Matheson Analytics, Inc., and its CEO Theodore Farnsworth — deceptively marketed its “one movie per day” service, then deployed deceptive tactics aimed at preventing subscribers from using the service as advertised — actions the FTC alleged violated both the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. 

The FTC also alleged MoviePass’s operators left a database containing large amounts of subscribers’ personal information unencrypted and exposed, leading to unauthorized access.




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AG Ferguson: Reed Hein to pay $2.61 million to resolve timeshare exit scheme lawsuit

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Deceptive ad from Reed Hein and Associates
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 that Kirkland-based timeshare exit company, Reed Hein and Associates LLC, must stop its deceptive timeshare exit practices and pay $2.61 million to Washington.

If the company violates the terms of the consent decree, it will be required to pay an additional $19 million — a total judgment of $22 million. 

Reed Hein also retracted and apologized for statements made in response to the Attorney General’s lawsuit.

The Attorney General’s Office will use Reed Hein’s $2.61 million payment to provide restitution to Washingtonians harmed by Reed Hein’s timeshare exit scheme and for partial reimbursement of his office’s litigation costs. The amount of restitution each individual receives will depend on the number of claims and the severity of harms suffered due to Reed Hein’s conduct.

The consent decree, filed in King County Superior Court, stems from Ferguson’s 2020 lawsuit. One key issue in the lawsuit: Reed Hein deceptively advertised a 100 percent money-back guarantee. In reality, many customers struggled to obtain refunds, and are still denied refunds even after the company failed to deliver for years.

More than 2,800 Washingtonians entered into contracts with Reed Hein, paying thousands in upfront fees, ranging from just under $3,000 up to tens of thousands of dollars per “exit.” Many of these individuals are still waiting for an exit from their timeshare years after signing their contracts.

More information here



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So many scams - so little time

Thursday, June 17, 2021

FRAUD ALERT - The CDC is not telling us to wear blue bracelets

By Diane Hettrick

There are so many scams and frauds coming at us that I hardly know where to start.

Here's a new one that a reader sent me. A company called VacSeen wants you to think that the CDC wants everyone who is vaccinated to wear a blue wristband - which they will sell to you. The pitch is very cleverly worded to make you think it's a CDC recommendation.

The one that is currently filling my in boxes is "Your order has shipped". It's a perfectly reasonable sounding email informing me that my order of a MacBook or Norton AntiVirus or some other product I didn't order has been shipped. They include the price information and tell me to click the link if I have any questions. If I fell for it, they would naturally need all my information in order to credit my account.

"Becky from Medicare" keeps calling me. Not sure what she wants or why NoMoRobo doesn't hang up on her. 

City Light scam alert
Previously I published the notice about Seattle City Light. A reader who retired from City Light agrees with the company that they would never ever hassle someone for payment. They might contact someone who is behind in payments to work out a payment plan but there would be written reminders first.

I received an extremely well done email from "Earthlink."  It was a very plausible email about upgrades and how they wanted to be sure that my service would continue uninterrupted. 
  • I checked the grammar. Small grammatical mistakes are a tell. "Please verify your informations."
  • The premise was reasonable if I actually had an Earthlink account. 
  • Finally, I put the cursor over the sender's email. It displayed as Earthlink.net but the name underneath was something entirely different. Bingo!
Here's the hard truth:
  • You haven't won a prize.
  • No one is giving you money.
  • Your PC is not infected.
  • No one logged into your account.
  • You don't need a free personal injury evaluation
  • The weight loss pills don't work.
  • Neither does the cure for toenail fungus.
  • Don't borrow money from someone who sends an email.

So many more. One of the emails I maintain received a thousand spam messages in a month. A lot of casino offers for free spins and chips. Cures for diseases. Invitations to class action lawsuits. The usual porn offers. Free credit reports. Amazon rewards for completing a survey.

Just remember this:

Nothing is free.
If it's too good to be true - it's not true.

Oh - and buy your cannabis gummies from a local store, not from an email solicitation.



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Scam Alert: Seattle City Light will never call you to demand payment

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Seattle City Light reports they have received a high volume of reports recently of scammers calling their customers demanding payment.

"Remember, we will never call, e-mail, or visit your home demanding immediate payment to avoid a shutoff.

"If someone calls you demanding payment, rather than seeking to work with you to establish a payment plan, that person is a scammer.

"If you get a call like this, hang up immediately.

"If you have received a call like this, please submit a scam report on our website: http://citylight.seattle.gov/scam "



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Consumer Alert: AG Ferguson warns consumers of scam health insurance ads and websites

Friday, May 7, 2021

Attorney General Bob Ferguson urges consumers to be on the lookout for websites posing as the state’s health insurance marketplace.

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange has received complaints from Washingtonians coming across ads and websites posing as the official health insurance marketplace. It has also received complaints about ads and websites claiming to grant consumers special access to the health plans on the official marketplace.

Some websites are tricking Washingtonians to get their personal information. Some provide services, but charge for things that should be free. Others are lead generators, making false claims about providing consumers with a simple, streamlined process for comparing marketplace health plans. 

In reality, these lead generators just sell consumer information to the highest bidder, often to insurance brokers who are not authorized to sell marketplace health plans.

“My office works to protect all Washingtonians’ health care rights,” Ferguson said. “That includes warning individuals about fake health care websites before someone gets scammed. We’ve included some simple tips to spot ads or websites posing as the office health insurance marketplace or claiming to grant special access to the marketplace. If you come across one of them, please contact my office.”

“Customers who need health coverage should be able to easily and safely obtain it, without being taken advantage of” said Pam MacEwan, Chief Executive Officer of the Exchange. “And this is why we alert the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office to prompt investigations of scams.”

WAhealthplanfinder.org, the state’s official website, is used by one in four Washingtonians to obtain health coverage. Washington residents can find, compare and enroll in new health plans. On the website, Washingtonians can find out whether they qualify for free or low-cost coverage.

However, some scammers appear to be posing as the official marketplace or claiming to offer consumers special access to marketplace health plans to sell Washingtonian’s private information. These websites claim to offer consumers a simple way for the consumer to shop for and compare the best marketplace health plans. 

In reality, these websites simply sell the consumer’s private information, often to insurance brokers that cannot sell marketplace health plans. Consumers who enter private information into fake marketplace websites, such as social security numbers or birth dates, also run the risk of becoming a victim of fraud and identity theft.

Also, consumers who use websites that are providing services will not get full information about their insurance options, including subsidies or access to Apple Health. The official marketplace for Washingtonians is the only place individuals can access tax credits and other federal assistance. The insurance plans offered by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange are the only plans to have guaranteed consumer protections and coverage, which plans purchased outside the marketplace may not.

To avoid getting scammed, follow these tips while shopping for health insurance:
  • Verify the web address of the exchange: The only official web address for the online marketplace is www.wahealthplanfinder.org. Any other site with a variation on the name or with an address that ends in “.net” or “.com” is not the state’s official marketplace. If you are unsure whether you have found the official website, call Washington Healthplanfinder toll-free at 1-855-WAFINDER.
  • Don’t pay for free stuff: The official marketplace for the state of Washington is the only place where you can receive tax credits, subsidies or access to free coverage through Medicaid or Washington Apple Health. Washingtonians never have to pay to sign up for free or low-cost health coverage in the marketplace.
  • Reach out to free, legitimate help: Only individuals who are certified by Washington Healthplanfinder or Medicaid to assist you with the enrollment process should request personal information to complete your application during a scheduled visit. This help is always free. 
  • If you don’t know whether someone is certified to assist you, call the Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support Center at 1-855-WAFINDER. Community volunteers trained by Medicaid can be verified by calling 1-800-562-3022 or emailing AskMedicaid@hca.wa.gov

To report an ad or website posing as this official site or a website claiming to offer special access to marketplace health plans, file a complaint with the Washington State Attorney General's Office. To report an insurance agent, agency, or other licensee for misrepresentations or fraudulent, deceptive, or coercive activity, file a complaint with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.



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AG Ferguson: Wave to pay $900,000 to tens of thousands of customers over hidden fee

Friday, March 12, 2021

OLYMPIA — Continuing his Honest Fees Initiative, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Bothell-based TV and broadband internet provider Wave will pay $900,000 to more than 23,000 customers who ordered the company’s services online. 

Wave failed to adequately disclose taxes and fees added to their bills, and did not clearly disclose its fees on some of its advertising.

Wave, which provides television and internet services in Washington, Oregon and California, did not clearly disclose all taxes and fees to customers when they signed up online. 

The Attorney General’s Office estimates that about 12,000 to 13,000 of the more than 23,000 customers who will receive bill credits are from Washington state.

More information here




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Data breach at Northshore Utility District vendor

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Northshore Utility District (NUD) was notified on February 9, 2021) of a cyber security incident involving its payment processing vendor, Automatic Funds Transfer Services, Inc. (AFTS). 

The AFTS servers were illegally accessed by an encrypted ransomware attack, occurring between February 3, 2021 and February 4, 2021. AFTS maintains customer data as part of its payment processing services. 

As an immediate response to this issue, District staff will be receiving and processing all utility payments made by check. This will remain in place until further notice.

NUD customers who pay their bill via automatic fund transfer, credit card, or in person, may have potential limited exposure related to following information: NUD customer account numbers, customer names, addresses, and the balance due on the account. 

Please note that customer credit card information is not shared with AFTS.

Customers who pay their bill via check, routed to AFTS, may have potential additional exposure related to scanned check images residing on the AFTS network servers, which include bank account and routing information. 

It is unknown at this time if any of these scanned records were accessed. However, customers are encouraged to monitor their accounts for suspicious activity and immediately report such activity to their bank. 

AFTS has reported this incident to local law enforcement and to the FBI for investigation. Northshore Utility District will continue to work with AFTS to determine the full extent of this incident and will provide updated information as soon as it becomes available.

NUD serves parts of Lake Forest Park and Kenmore.



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State Auditor will notify people affected by security breach and offer 12 months of free credit monitoring

Friday, February 26, 2021

This week, the Office of the Washington State Auditor will begin notifying people whose unemployment benefits claims information may have been affected by a security breach of the Accellion file transfer service.

The notifications will be sent by email during the next two weeks to people who filed an unemployment insurance claim in 2020. 

In addition to general information about identity theft protection, the email includes an individual code for 12 months of free credit monitoring as well as instructions on how to enroll and request assistance. 




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